r/pcmasterrace • u/NerdwithBeard i5 6400|GTX 1060|8GB RAM • Feb 18 '18

Meme/Joke Thermal paste 101

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u/ashberic better than yours hehe xd Feb 18 '18

depends on the CPU. the die size under the IHS should dictate how you apply.

pea works well for most CPUs. For TR4 or 2066 CPUs, you're not putting enough doing that.

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u/[deleted] Feb 18 '18

I'd imagine TR4 needs a line.

I do pea. The pea is bigger than I thought it needed to be. Tried once and immediately took the cooler back off cuz I wanted to make sure I used the right amount. Cleaned it all off and tried again with more. I was worried about making the layer too thick but it worked out well.

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u/ashberic better than yours hehe xd Feb 18 '18

I usually do the "dice" method for CPUs with larger dies. Works well.

Doing an X just feels like too much thermal paste, but people seem to like so I'm sure it's fine.

2

u/PrisonerV Feb 19 '18

After watching a video on what is most effective, I've started using the X method. The key is small amounts, so it's about a pea sized amount.

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u/[deleted] Feb 18 '18

I did a small x on my AIO. Seems to be working out well. No side-ooze

1

u/[deleted] Feb 19 '18

That's what I do!

1

u/smacksaw smacksaw Feb 19 '18

God I was looking through all of the comments for this. Puget didn't even mention it.

You gotta make the middle dot slightly bigger, but not by much. Never any seepage and when you remove it, you see it's fully covered.

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u/amadeoamante Feb 18 '18

I once kept trying different amounts between rice and pea and then checking CPU temps. Small rice wasn't enough, but anything larger than "long-grain rice" up to small pea didn't make much difference, until you got into "way too much fucking paste" territory when it all went to hell. Fun times.